Exercise Device Safety Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A support member is connected to an exercise device, and extends upward from the connection point to a point above the exercise device. A kill switch is attached to the upper end of the support member. One or more connectors extend downward from the kill switch, and attaches to a body harness configured to be secured around a user&#39;s torso and/or other body part(s). In the event of a fall, the downward force created by the weight of the user triggers the kill switch, causing the operation of the exercise device to cease immediately. The length of the connector(s) should provide enough slack so that as the user moves, the kill switch is not falsely triggered the user&#39;s movement in performing various exercises. Likewise, the length of the connector(s) should be short enough to catch and suspend the user in the air in the event of a fall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to safety apparatuses for exercise devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Serious injuries involving exercise devices—treadmills in particular—are among the most common that emergency rooms see, according to data collected by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”). Treadmill injuries are oftentimes the result of a user falling during operation of the treadmill.

Hospital emergency departments across the USA treated approximately 24,400 treadmill related injuries last year. The agency counted 30 reported deaths associated with treadmills from 2003 to 2012.

Reported treadmill injuries included broken bones, abrasions, rectal bleeding and people developing chest pain while working out on the machines, according to a review of the CPSC database system.

As a safety feature, most treadmills are equipped with a kill switch that allows a user to immediately halt the operation of the treadmill. Treadmill kill switches are often configured as a magnetic-based safety key that a user clips to his or her waist, so that the safety key is disconnected from the treadmill if the user falls. This disconnection immediately stops the operation of the treadmill.

Kill switches are extremely beneficial for situations in which the user is able to anticipate imminent danger, for example if the user begins to become lightheaded. In those types of foreseeable situations, the user can use the kill switch to immediately stop the treadmill, and prevent or mitigate injury from falling. Unfortunately, oftentimes imminent danger to a treadmill user is unforeseeable, for instance, if the user's leg(s) cramp, a medical condition or exhaustion causes the user to blackout or lose voluntary control of his/her body, etc. In these situations, the user will likely fall, resulting in injury and/or death as his/her body and/or head is subjected to blunt force trauma from striking the treadmill, surrounding objects, and/or the floor. Additionally, the friction of the treadmill band may cause burns on the user's skin.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a safety apparatus for exercise devices, such as treadmills, elliptical machines, stair climbers or stairmills, that is capable of safeguarding a user from injury and/or death in the event of unforeseeable events posing imminent danger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A support member is connected to an exercise device, and extends upward from the connection point to a point above the exercise device. A kill switch is attached to the upper end of the support member. One or more connectors extend downward from the kill switch and attach to a body harness. The body harness is configured to releasably secure around a user's torso and/or other body part(s).

In an embodiment, joiners, such as clips, hooks, or rings are used to connect the upper end and lower end of the connector(s) to the kill switch and body harness, respectively.

In an embodiment, the support member is height-adjustable.

In an embodiment, the body harness is adjustable. In another embodiment, the body harness is stretchable and resilient, which eliminates the need for adjustment.

In an embodiment, a weight sensor measures an amount of downward force being exerted on the kill switch. When the weight sensor detects a predetermined weight, the kill switch is triggered and shuts off power to the exercise device.

In an embodiment, the kill switch has a wireless transmitter that wirelessly instructs the exercise device to cease operation once the kill switch has been triggered.

In an embodiment, the connector(s) is constructed of a material such as rope, elastic cord or metal cable.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exercise device safety apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the exercise device safety apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a kill switch of the exercise device safety apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a body harness of the exercise device safety apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-4 wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the exercise device safety apparatus has a support member 5 having a lower end 6 and an upper end 7. In a preferred embodiment, the lower end 6 is connected to the base 2 of an exercise device 10, such as a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a stair climber or a stairmill. However, one skilled in the art would understand and appreciate that the lower end 6 could be connected to another part of the exercise device 10 without deviating from the scope of the present invention. In an embodiment the support member 5 is removably connected to the exercise device 10. The support member 5 extends upward from the base (or alternative connection point) of the exercise device 10 toward the upper end 7. The upper end 7 is positioned over the exercise device 10. The support member is preferably constructed of a lightweight, high strength material, such as aluminum or a polymer that would be known and appreciated by one skilled in the art for supporting the weight of a human being of any size.

With additional reference to FIGS. 3-4, a kill switch 15 extends from the support member's upper end 7. At least one connector 25, such as a rope, an elastic cord or a metal cable is connected to, and extends downward from, the kill switch 15. The lower end of the at least one connector 25 is connected to a body harness 35. The body harness 35 is exemplified in FIGS. 1 and 4 as a single looped strap. However, one skilled in the art would understand and appreciate that other forms of body harnesses, for example a shoulder strap harness or a backpack-style harness, could be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention. The body harness 35 is configured to be secured around a user's torso and/or other body part(s) to secure, i.e. “catch” and suspend, the user in the event of a fall. In a preferred embodiment, joiners 20, 30, such as a hook, a clip, or a ring, are used to releasably connect the at least one connector 25 to the kill switch 15 and the body harness 35, respectively.

In an embodiment the kill switch 15 extends axially from the support member's upper end 7. In an alternative embodiment, the kill switch 15 extends downward from the support member's upper end 7. The kill switch 15 has an upward resistance, for example 30 pounds, that must be overcome to trigger the kill switch 15. In use, the kill switch 15 is triggered when a downward force equal to, or greater than, the upward resistance of the kill switch 15 is applied to the at least one connector 25 connected to the kill switch 15.

In an embodiment, the amount of force required to trigger the kill switch 15 can be adjusted to prevent inadvertent triggering of the kill switch 15. In an embodiment, adjustments are made using an adjustment system (not shown), for example a knob, connected to a mechanical spring (not shown) that alters the upward resistance of the kill switch 15.

In an embodiment, the kill switch 15 is in communication with a weight sensor (not shown) that measures an amount of downward force being exerted on the kill switch 15. The kill switch 15 can be programmed to kill the operation of the exercise device 10 when the kill switch 15 detects a specified amount of downward force. As an example, the kill switch 15 may be programmed to trigger when 30 pounds of downward force is exerted on the kill switch 15, such that any amount of force being exerted on the kill switch 15 by the at least one connector 25 less than 30 pounds would not trigger the kill switch 15.

In an embodiment, the at least one connector 25 is constructed from a high strength material having a dynamic, resilient quality to cushion the impact of a fall on the user.

In an embodiment, the body harness 35 is adjustable, allowing it to be used by individuals of various sizes. In another embodiment, the body harness 35 is constructed of a stretchable, resilient material capable of conforming to various size individuals without the need for manual adjustment.

In an embodiment, the support member 5 is hollow to allow containment of electrical wires (not shown) connecting the kill switch 15 and the exercise device 10. In another embodiment, the kill switch 15 is battery-powered and is equipped with a wireless transmitter (not shown), such as a Bluetooth module, that allows the kill switch 15 to communicate wirelessly with the exercise device 10, such that when the kill switch 15 is triggered, a wireless signal is transmitted to the exercise device 10, instructing the exercise device 10 to cease operation.

In an embodiment, the support member 5 has multiple interconnected sections (not shown), and is height-adjustable to accommodate users of varying heights. Height adjustments are made to the support member 5 using an adjustment system (not shown), for example a hydraulic lift system or a manual pin/aperture system.

In an embodiment, the at least one connector 25 is interchangeable for at least one connector 25 of another length. This interchangeability allows the exercise device safety apparatus to easily accommodate users of varying heights. In another embodiment, extension sections (not shown) can be connected to the at least one connector 25 to accommodate users of varying heights. In a preferred embodiment, the joiners 20, 30 allow the at least one connector 25 to be easily and quickly interchanged, extended and/or shortened.

In a preferred embodiment, prior to starting the exercise device 10, a user secures the body harness 35 around his/her torso and/or other body part(s), and positions the at least one connector 25 at his/her back. The length of the at least one connector 25 should provide enough slack so that as the user is in motion, the kill switch 15 is not falsely triggered by intermittent tensioning of the at least one connector 25 caused by the user's stride or movement in performing various exercises. Likewise, the length of the at least one connector 25 should be short enough to “catch” and suspend the user in the air in the event of a fall, thus minimizing injury from the user striking, or otherwise coming in contact with, the exercise device 10 and/or floor. In the event of a fall, the downward force created by the weight of the user triggers the kill switch 15, causing the operation of the exercise device 10 to cease immediately.

In an embodiment, when the kill switch 15 is triggered, emergency sensors (not shown), such as one or more lights, a buzzer, etc., are activated to alert other individuals of the incident.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise device safety apparatus, comprising: a. a support member, having a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower end is connected to the exercise device, and wherein the upper end is positioned above the exercise device; b. a kill switch in communication with the upper end of the support member; c. at least one connector in communication with the kill switch, wherein the at least one connector extends downward from the kill switch; and d. a body harness in communication with a lower end of the at least one connector, wherein the body harness is configured to be secured on a user's body.
 2. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a. a joiner selected from the group consisting of a clip, a hook, and a ring, configured to releasably connect an upper end of the at least one connector to the kill switch; and b. a joiner selected from the group consisting of a clip, a hook, and a ring, configured to releasably connect the lower end of the at least one connector to the body harness.
 3. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body harness is a torso strap.
 4. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body harness is adjustable.
 5. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body harness is stretchable and resilient.
 6. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a weight sensor in communication with the kill switch, wherein the weight sensor is configured to measure an amount of downward force being exerted on the kill switch.
 7. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, wherein the kill switch comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with the exercise device.
 8. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of rope, elastic cord, and metal cable.
 9. The exercise device safety apparatus of claim 1, wherein a height of the support member is adjustable. 